Pages

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Conditions for True Joy

“Man
should take joy as seriously as he takes himself.” So wrote German priest Fr. Alfred Delp, in his reflections for Gaudete Sunday, 1944. This Jesuit had a particular affinity for Advent, the season of waiting and preparing for God's coming to us. Living in Nazi Germany, he knew all too well how one could question, “Is there any point bothering about joy?” On that third Sunday of Advent, whose theme is joy, he encouraged belief in the possibility of true joy:

“[Man] should believe in
himself, believe in his heart and in his Lord God, even through darkness and
distress—that he is created for joy.... We are created for a life that knows
itself to be blessed, sent, and touched at its deepest center by God Himself.

“The conditions
for true joy have nothing to do with the conditions of our exterior life, but
consist of man’s interior frame of mind and competence, which make it possible
now and again for him to sense, even in adverse external circumstances, what
life is basically about.” Delp knew something about “adverse circumstances.” An outspoken critic of the Nazis, he had been arrested and tortured; he wrote these words from a Berlin prison, wearing handcuffs day and night and awaiting his execution. No wonder then, that he would ask: “How
should we live so that we are capable—or can become capable—of true joy?” Still a pastor, Fr. Delp did not ask merely for himself. He wrote reflections from his cell, which were smuggled out and shared with his flock. The answer he gives in part is this:

“Joy
in human life has to do with God. Creatures can bring us joy in various forms
and can provide an occasion for joy and rejoicing, but the actual success of
this depends upon whether we are still capable of joy and familiar with it. And
that...is conditional upon our personal relationship to the Lord God. Only in
God is man fully capable of life.”

About Me

I have an M.A. in literature from Catholic University and a B.A. in English and History from Franciscan University. A freelance writer and editor, I have copyedited Catholic books for over 25 years and written for Our Sunday Visitor Newsweekly, St. Austin Review, Franciscan Way, Catholic World Report, Voices, Faith and Family, and New Covenant.
My wonderful husband and I have six precious children.
I'm currently writing a book under contract with Ignatius Press, and thus not able to post here as often. Please keep me in your prayers!

Where the Rubber Hits the Road

About this blog

Where the Rubber Hits the Road discusses what it really means to follow Christ in today's world. There's a lot more to it than warming a pew. Going beyond theory and trying to live out one's faith isn't easy, but the rewards are all worth it. The author being Catholic, some of the posts will come specifically from that perspective, but she hopes that most will still inspire anyone striving to follow Jesus or anyone considering doing so.

The Catholic Corner Books & Gifts

Catholic Corner Books & Gifts

If you live in the Baltimore metro area, make sure to visit The Catholic Corner Books & Gifts. This family business (which the Floods helped launch) has loads of First Communion gifts and other gifts too: paintings, rosaries, cards, jewelry. Plus hundreds of terrific books on the Faith--from children's novels to prayer books to apologetics to inspirational and more ... too many to describe!

Click photo for hours and location.

Privacy policy

Google's uses the DART cookie so as to enable it and its partners to serve ads to visitors based on their visit here.